Another who has high paid jobs thread. Careers for a young person, High salary, really needing ideas

Lspacebanana on 06/02/2014 - 23:13
Last edited 06/02/2014 - 23:29

Hey Guys,
Long time reader, never posted before.
I noticed earlier on the site there was a 41 year old person posting about a career change.
I really enjoyed reading the comments so much so that I thought I'd post my own.

I am a 20 year old living in Melbourne, working a few jobs, earning relatively average money, what I am looking for is a bit of direction in my life. But moreso I am looking for career path ideas.
I am really looking to get into a job that pays well 100k + (obviously not straight away)
I finished school and didn't do very well, due to personal reasons.
But I do think I am a motivated person with a good business mindset, I really like the idea of passive income and income via investments. But it's really hard to jump straight into without a real idea of how it works.

I am currently in the midst of starting my own business, so hopefully that will turn into something, even if small. I also dismantle imported cars and make alright money out of that.
But I would like a solid career to aim towards as I really like the idea of having a solid job that pays well and not having to worry about small business opportunities and such.

So what I am asking you guys is, what career paths would you guys recommend? I really am open to anything and open to studying to achieve that career, even if I have to take TAFE pathways to achieve it.

I like the idea of office work, outside (trades and such) Pretty much anything

I really appreciate the help/ suggestions

If anyone has tips on being a young investor, I would love to hear from them via PM.

THANKS :)

Education & Work

Comments

    • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2014 - 10:58

      Just hijacking to give some info. This is a list of guaranteed earners and duds when studying. I've always wanted to do engineering but I could settle for surveying although I think now everyone will be on that bandwagon.
      http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/mccrindle-research-finds…

      • Utopian on 11/02/2014 - 13:36

        Doesn't take into account that majority of graduates work in a few different fields/careers… psych is flexible. Imagine spending 3yrs studying surveying, getting into the work force but not enjoying it then stuck doing that for the rest of your working life.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/02/2014 - 13:48
      +2

      less btc more doge wow much profit

      • StewBalls on 10/02/2014 - 19:02
        +1

        LOL, I'm not even sure if I'm being negged for facetiously suggesting a ponzi scheme or if somebody thinks I'm seriously suggesting said ponzi scheme! :p

        • Skinnerr on 11/02/2014 - 16:56
          +1

          He is legitimately asking for advice and your response is a veiled wisecrack. This isnt a deal page to make jokes 1st thing when someone asks for genuine advice. Im not the internet police but yeh, use your brain abit mate.

        • StewBalls on 12/02/2014 - 13:59

          …your response is a veiled wisecrack.

          It wasn't actually veiled…and I can't believe that you read the comment you just responded to as an actual question…wow, derp! :)

    • The Wololo Wombat on 18/02/2018 - 01:31
      +2

      Damn this looks smart now

  • warwick108 on 06/02/2014 - 23:58
    +3

    surveyor =)

  • HAL on 07/02/2014 - 02:12
    +7

    IT (non-desktop support) for a Bank… looking at $70k+ for Graduates…
    (need a Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or similar, and a decent WAM)

    But honestly I think find your passion and pursue that… there is money to be found in all industries… esp if you are amazing at it…

    • ProjectZero on 07/02/2014 - 08:42
      +3

      Really? I Heard most banks outsource their IT nowadays, well the thing i want to do anyway (programming)… Was looking to change career as well, and was thinking of doing the grad diploma for Computer Science.

      I am interested in IT but programming was what i really wanted to do. Is there any specific degree to look for in IT or just IT in general will be fine for bank?

      P.S. Sorry OP kinda hijacked this abit

      • scotty on 07/02/2014 - 10:42
        +6

        If $70k+ is how much CompSci/IT graduates are getting paid at the banks, no wonder they are out-sourcing to other countries. I'm also amazed how much grads are getting paid these days.

        I was talking to a friend's dad last week, who was running a software company in China. He said that CompSci grad from uni there costs around $900/month, and a top grad from a good uni costs double that (and probably works harder and more competitive than a grad here). As much as I would like to hire local developers, the prospect of outsourcing can be really attractive.

        • HAL on 07/02/2014 - 16:20
          +1

          Was working in London last year…

          Some of the companies there were actually reversing their outsourcing policy. Quality control and reliability once factored in doesn't actually means it cost less in the long run.

          $70k is for banking, looking at $50/60k average for other industries.

          Out of curiosity how many Devs are there for Ozbargain? (all local?)

        • scotty on 07/02/2014 - 17:01

          how many Devs are there for Ozbargain?

          me & moocher, and we can only afford less than 1/2 the time doing dev's as there are a lot of other things that need to be done (moderation, content management, sysadmin, etc)

        • Gina Rinehart on 07/02/2014 - 17:30

          How much moderation do you and moocher do? I would have thought a site like ozbargain would have volunteer mods. Maybe not :P

        • HAL on 07/02/2014 - 17:45

          Sounds like you guys could do with a bit of outsourcing :P

        • GameChanger on 09/02/2014 - 05:41
          +1

          Inherently their school system gives them more brain power. It was certainly an odd moment when I saw 15 year old maths in India equivalent to 1st year engineering at G8 which had a big failure rate. The grads which have attended schools that use English as 1st language, will give any grad here a run for their money. I know in India universities require a 75% attendance to pass + most run 9-5, then students will study till 12.

          Many articles still argue that the western system provides more quality, but personally I find that hard to believe when I see engineering students get hammered/study few weeks before and still pass.

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 09/02/2014 - 22:48

          It all depends, remember that countries like India and China have close to half the worlds population so no surprise that you'd have a perception that they are smarter and more motivated. Having said this, Chinese do tend to hold education in the highest esteem and I've seen plenty who deserve to succeed, but I've also seen heaps of lazy ass O\S students cheat\bribe their way to an aussie degree.

        • GameChanger on 09/02/2014 - 23:55

          Those kids are not the average day kid! Firstly most of them would even scored enough to enter local uni's. In those countries just like here money can buy you jobs, their families are influential so they just need a degree and head back into the family business. How many of the very brightest can't afford min $30k yr to study overseas?

        • Utopian on 10/02/2014 - 11:16

          Some fair & valid points. What we've noticed lacking is the imagination. A common observation. My cousin is helping completely redesign uni curriculum to tackle it. I mean this with respect, highly intelligent robots, is the usual description. When things deviate off course/out of parameter, or creativity is needed… they're in deep water FAST.

          We have teams of ALL sorts, which gives us our strength. There's no 'one' perfect employee/student.

          The beauty of being in Aus. SO many cultures/methods/styles to build a team from.

        • squirellwing on 10/02/2014 - 16:53
          +1

          Outsourcing is not as easy as it looks. I've seen at least 4 big outsourcing projects that fail in finance (2), mining(1), and government (1) sector.

        • StewBalls on 10/02/2014 - 18:59

          I mean this with respect, highly intelligent robots, is the usual description.

          Given the quality of some "graduates" I've seen pushed out the door from certain universities, I'd be inclined to drop both the "highly" and "intelligent" from that description! ;)

        • HAL on 11/02/2014 - 00:03
          +3

          numbnuts couldn't agree more…

          It's a deep systemic cultural issue.

          Asian countries place emphasis on social harmony there is one model of being and one must subscribe to it, this flows down through their education system. (I attribute a lot of this to Confucianism)

          When you grow up in a system where you are told how to learn and how to think, it's hard to think outside the box.

      • Withdr4wn on 07/02/2014 - 13:11
        +1

        Whilst they do outsource, don't always assume "outsource to India". Many of these companies outsource to Australian IT Consulting companies (which in part or in full may outsource further - but tend to keep many jobs in Australia).

      • HAL on 07/02/2014 - 16:29
        +2

        Computer Science is a good start, it's very generalised giving you most of the basics.

        But you can start at home! Programming is something everyone can pick up and learn in their own time…

        What is a general IT degree? Never heard of it…

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 09/02/2014 - 22:50
          +2

          'But you can start at home! Programming is something everyone can pick up and learn in their own time…'

          Incorrect man. If you suck at Maths\logic you'll never pick up anything but the basics (excuse the pun) in Programming.

        • mskeggs on 10/02/2014 - 10:00
          +1

          Well, yes, but isn't it better to discover this with a book on PHP and a $5 web host than drop out of first year with a HECS debt and a wasted year?

        • HAL on 10/02/2014 - 23:44

          Rodripa I don't wholly agree with your statement, I think that attitude will deter a lot of people from giving it a go.

          An aptitude for Maths/Logic obviously will make programming easier but a lack of doesn't make it insurmountable. The level of Maths/Logic training you will require will depend on the industry you want to work for.

          I am a firm believer that everyone should have some understanding of Programming, you will be surprised how much you can streamline your life with it.

      • oringal on 07/02/2014 - 17:27
        +1

        IT and programming are different things in a way… programming is more for like google, microsoft or facebook with some emphasis on research and development(i.e. the next big thing in tech) and IT is more like for working in corporate business environments(banks, traders, etc) with more emphasis on streamlining and improving efficiency .

        • HAL on 07/02/2014 - 17:36

          I think you mean Programming vs Software Engineering

          Google etc don't hire programmers they hire Software Engineers

          IT is a bit of a weird term though, it means different things to different people… (I generally try not to use it unless I want to make things easier to understand)

        • redraoh on 08/02/2014 - 15:27

          Google etc don't hire programmers they hire Software Engineers

          What's the difference?

        • grimreeper on 10/02/2014 - 19:01

          Programming is IT but IT isn't programming.

        • HAL on 10/02/2014 - 23:10

          Now that I think about it "Software Engineer" is probably not the exact word I am looking for… but since I can't think of anything better… let's leave it at that for now…

          Basically the big tech firms don't want to hire "code monkeys", many graduates can hack together code to make a program… The big tech firms hire problem solvers… they want people who can solve problems in an elegant, efficient and creative manner…

          If you are interested in the mindset they look for have a look at some of their technical interview questions…

        • Cyb3rGlitch on 11/02/2014 - 02:12

          It's a red herring. They hire anyone who knows what they're talking about and can code their way out of a problem. You'll find they hire mainly computer scientists.

        • HAL on 11/02/2014 - 03:00

          Computer Scientist is probably the right title.

          However having graduated from a Computer Science major, I find it hard to use that title… considering what I do doesn't involve much "Science", whereas if I were in academia or a research lab it would probably be different.

    • exc3113nce on 12/02/2014 - 08:41

      I've had two friends recently in graduate IT programs - both get around $50-$60K and yes one was at a bank.

  • neil on 07/02/2014 - 02:33
    +14

    Australia's Top Paying Jobs:

    1. Anaesthetists $124.10
    2. Internal medicine specialist $88
    3. Other medical practitioners $69.30 (In this group the ABS includes dermatologists, emergency medicine specialists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, pathologists, diagnostic and interventional radiologist, radiation oncologists and medical practitioners.)
    4. Dental practitioners $68.60
    5. Mining engineers $65.50
    6. Chemical, gas, petroleum and power generation plant operators $63.90
    7. Barristers $61.80
    8. Financial dealers $60.80
    9. Geologists and geophysicists $59.70
    10. University lecturers and tutors $57.60
    11. ICT sales professionals $57.60
    12. Marine transport professionals $57.10
    13. Electronics engineers $55.90
    14. Other building and engineering technicians $55.70 (In this group the ABS includes maintenance planners, metallurgical or materials technicians, mine deputies and building and engineering technicians not elsewhere classified.)
    15. Generalist medical practitioners $55.10
    16. Crane, hoist and lift operators $54.60
    17. Civil engineering professionals $53.90
    18. ICT business and systems analysts $53.40
    19. Train and tram drivers $53.40
    20. Aircraft maintenance engineers $52.50
    21. Medical imaging professionals $52.30

    My wife's uncle is anesthetist and is loaded. Fairly relaxed work environment, travel to exotic destination under the guise of a medical conference. Not a bad gig but does require a bit of study.

    Train drivers can make over $100K a year if they do a bit of overtime/work holidays. Unionized, free PT. Best part is not worrying about work once you clock off for the day. Downside I guess is killing people by accident. I'd love to be a tram driver but I don't think they get as well paid.

    • Save Medicare on 07/02/2014 - 07:52
      +12

      yeah man just a tiny bit of study mate

      • Save Medicare on 07/02/2014 - 18:37
        +15

        I'd just like to add that it's by no means a good idea to get into medicine for the money.

        The promise of money alone cannot get you through the hell that is med school, let alone the training that comes after.

        • thetownfool on 10/02/2014 - 00:17

          Don't know why med school gets such a bad reputation? The failure rate in our year was fairly small, and when you're hospital based you'll find that you get more time off than you might for other degree work placements.

          Although definitely agree that med school for money/to satisfy your parents/because you did well enough in school is a bad idea. I have a few colleagues who definitely do not enjoy their jobs, but are now stuck in them not knowing what to do. Their egos won't let them be GPs but they don't want to work hard enough to do surgery or medicine. Most of them do radiology…

        • Save Medicare on 10/02/2014 - 10:30

          To be honest I'm probably just bitter because I just failed a year and am repeating.

        • squirellwing on 10/02/2014 - 16:55
          +1

          I thought GP is a specialisation as well in Australia?

    • tenshi13 on 07/02/2014 - 10:00
      +6

      wish i looked this up wayyyy earlier : P

    • cpho on 07/02/2014 - 11:43
      +7

      There is a huge tradeoff for the med careers. Assuming you just got out of high school at 18, 5 years for your degree, 2 years minimum work experience, back to studying specialist. Anaesthetist is 7 years study, then you have another 2 years as a registrar before you're fully qualified. Happy 35th birthday! Time to start paying off your hecs debt.

      You can make big money out of anything, as long as youre good at what you do.

      • headlessfly on 07/02/2014 - 16:23
        +33

        Hi camoqs, Anaesthetist here.

        It's great that you would like a fantastic career, but I would not be the first, nor would I be the last, to tell you that you need to find something you enjoy and just aim to be the best at it. And here's why…

        I can't comment on other industries, but a few things you need to know about medicine (and anaesthesia), and hopefully instil some understanding (and dispel some myths) about my industry:

        1. The "Australia's Top Paying Jobs" list is grossly inaccurate. Suffice to say: if you were a doctor, engineer, mining consultant, lawyer, etc, would you want to report your real income and have the public judge you for how much you earn, rather than how much you sacrificed to get there? I'll leave it there and you can decide how to interpret the list.

        2. The job market is changing, even within medicine, so jobs are not easy to come by even after you qualify as a specialist. Medicine is not how it used to be even just 10 years ago.

        3. Contrary to cpho's comment above, Anaesthetists do not spend 7 years study followed by 2 years as a registrar. Like all specialists, you must first complete a medical degree (ranges from 4-7 years), followed by an intern year, and sometimes a couple of years as a resident or unaccredited registrar, before applying and/or being accepted into a training program to train as a specialist. Currently for anaesthesia, you need to complete at least 2 years of internship/residency before commencing anaesthesia training (and you're not guaranteed to get straight in, some people try for a few years). Once you are in the training program, you work (yes, it's paid work) as a registrar under supervision of qualified anaesthetists for a minimum of 5 years full-time, or whatever equivalent part-time, while studying for 2 major (seriously major*) exams. At the end of that, you are a qualified anaesthetist, who must then look for whatever jobs are available at the time in the public or private sectors. The path is similar whether you want to be a surgeon, anaesthetist, radiologist, physician, etc.

        *Major exam = can result in detriment to family life, mental health, personal relationships, etc. Numerous registrars end up divorced or depressed. No amount of money is worth that.

        1. cpho is right - even by the quickest pathway, you can graduate as a specialist around the age of around 30, but most people for various reasons are held up at various bottlenecks and graduate between 30-35, some even later. However, you do not start paying off your HECS at the end of it. From the day you become and intern, you are a working doctor and start paying off HECS via your annual tax returns. Hopefully by the end of your 7 years you will have finished paying off your HECS. However, exams and training fees for specialist colleges can amount to tens of thousands of dollars which you must pay along the way on your own (not HECS).

        2. Also consider this: The amount per hour earned does not reflect the number of jobs available and the number of people earning at that level. E.g. a paediatric surgeon might earn $x, but there are very few jobs available. I'm sure similar can be said for the other industries on the list. Do some research before committing.

        Hope that helps.

        • spacebanana on 07/02/2014 - 20:20
          +1

          Wow, I really appreciate such an in depth response!
          So interesting to have an insight into a career such as yours, and as you have explained it's not all $150 p/h work. But I am sure if you make it through it all, it's a great career!

          I am not so medically inclined, more financial/ IT I guess.
          So many people are saying "find your passion", I find this really quite difficult
          I am passionate about making big money, obviously I don't want to be working crazy hours or anything or I would get my truck license.
          I want work life balance with a good salary.
          Really just looking for inspiration on career opportunities.

          Thanks again for your awesome response :)

        • cpho on 08/02/2014 - 00:01

          Well replied indeed.
          Thanks for correcting me. My information wasn't solid, just based on what I was told in high school by my student advisory career guide person, a couple years back. I didn't mean to pick out anesthetist, I meant all specialists in general take many years to reach the point where you're 100% qualified.

          While you're here, can I run another myth by you, how many hours a week do anesthetists work?

        • headlessfly on 08/02/2014 - 00:29
          +7

          No worries. Glad to be of assistance.
          I understand why anaesthetists are used as the example for comparison because we "topped the list". I myself am surprised at how Anaesthetists topped the list, as I sure know many colleagues in other specialties making a lot more than me! More honest in reporting? Don't know.

          The answer to your question about how many hours anaesthetists work is: it depends. It depends on many things such as where you work, whether you are full time, how much after hours commitments you do, whether you do private or public, or a mixture, etc. Same can be said for other specialties to a large extent too.

          Example:

          1. Full time public staff anaesthetist. The standard work hours like any other public job is 76 per fortnight here in Queensland. But full time staff anaesthetists are required to do a certain amount of after hours on-call shifts, etc. And part of your 76 hours may be allocated to after hours or weekend work. Also, you may get called in on your on-call shifts, or not. And the regular daily work is not finished until the last patient leaves the operating theatre, so if the operation is not finished, we don't just stop the anaesthetic and leave, so overtime does come into it a fair bit. If you worked in a very small hospital with next to no on-call, then you might get away with doing 76 hours a fortnight. But rarely is that the case, more likely it's perhaps 100/ftnight? Again, depends on the workload at where you work.

          2. Private anaesthetist. Unlike the public anaesthetist who receives a salary, private work is like contracting - e.g. you pay your builder per job, not per hour. Therefore, no work = no pay. So then it's really up to the individual to set their hours. If you are a workaholic you can end up doing 12 hour days 6 days a week if you want, plus on-call. On the other hand, I have many colleague who chose the profession because it's flexible in that way - some of them work 1-3 days a week and it works well with their family commitments. As one can imagine, it's more difficult to be a part-time surgeon due to continuity of care of patients. Other flexible specialties include emergency medicine, radiology, pathology, general practice, etc.

          3. Alternatively you can mix and match the two options and create a flexible work pattern.

        • Cheap Steve on 08/02/2014 - 07:01

          Hi camoqs, if you like finance then don't look any further. There are plenty of very well paid careers in finance. Any job related to shares, tax, superannuation, loans or insurance will be well paid.

        • shaybisc on 08/02/2014 - 11:14

          Ok we have a plan- "did not do well at school" the first time. Step 1- go back and do well this time- top 1% should do it.

        • tenshi13 on 08/02/2014 - 17:32

          Anaesthetist AMA lol, thanks for sharing @headlessfly

          am always impressed and respect medical field peoples

          http://cdn.alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/large/sad-i-know-th…

        • mskeggs on 10/02/2014 - 10:04

          There is a counter argument to find your passion.
          It might be your passion is (for example) fishing.
          If you love spending a sunny Saturday down at the wharf, your best bet is to find a job you don't mind that covers your expenses with the smallest effort, and gives you time to fish.
          If you went to work on a fishing trawler, you might hate it.
          Following your passion can have different outcomes than trying to figure out how to get paid doing it.
          Similarly, I know some people who love acting/theatre. You can pursue a career at that, and be poor forever unless you are in the top fraction of 1%.
          Or you can do a job that is unrelated but ok, and spend your evenings and weekends doing theatre.

        • spacebanana on 10/02/2014 - 21:59

          I completely agree with this.
          I love cars, but I don't want to spend my dad servicing falcadores because I feel like it will destroy the passion for me.

        • bex000 on 12/02/2014 - 01:37

          Falcodore days are numbered son.

    • Eivad on 07/02/2014 - 12:15
      +7

      16.Crane, hoist and lift operators $54.60
      19.Train and tram drivers $53.40

      *throws away my degree and current career and joins either of these professions.

      • striker5950 on 08/02/2014 - 17:11

        lol ur tempting me:P currently studying ICT:/ and not enjoying it as much as i thought i would

        • bich.light on 10/02/2014 - 20:26

          I'm about to start that course… whats it like? :\

      • microsnot on 08/02/2014 - 20:43
        +1

        16.Crane, hoist and lift operators $54.60

        I don't have any evidence to back this up but I reckon this is the kind of job that sounds easy but actually takes a lot of skill.

        19.Train and tram drivers $53.40

        If you can deal with the occasional suicide.

        • mini2 on 08/02/2014 - 20:50

          Last I've heard on a good year, expect around 1 suicide. Multiples on a bad year.

        • ozgriff on 09/02/2014 - 11:58
          +1

          Or you can become a doctor/paramedic/police/fire or other emergency service and see a hell of a lot more than the tram/train driver.

    • Cluster on 07/02/2014 - 14:35
      +6

      Aircraft maintenance engineers are likely to drop off that list. Qantas is shutting down much of its local maintenance operation and newer aircraft fly longer with less checks. Aircraft are now often flown overseas for B and C checks. It's a dying career field.

      • StewBalls on 08/02/2014 - 11:47

        Spot on! I have a mate in the industry looking down the barrel of redundancy for this very reason even as we speak.

        • Supe on 11/02/2014 - 02:00
          +3

          I am uneasy with all the skilled technical jobs no longer being a viable career option. There's areas in the U.S referred to as the rust belt. Locations that were once the hub and hive of industry, locus of community, economic strength and employment that functioned as a sink for large labour force building and maintaining social cohesion (largely anyway). These days, prisons are the new sinks to absorb people that may have once worked in a factory or elsewhere within the economic logistics train supporting those industries.

          What is the social trajectory for the economic well being Australia when our manufacturing and large component of our technical trades are scrapped? Mining is to Aus as Oil is to Saudi. It can't be sustained - and in our case, it'll never be big enough to absorb all those job losses now and in the near future. As a kid I recall, Treasurer then PM Keating and with his characteristic hubris, consigned an economy away from what he viewed as 'sunset' industries to a world paved with gold and endless opportunity (clean/new tech!). I'm no longer buying that mode of thought. Globalisation, free trade, outsourcing, will increasingly impoverish Western countries, when Corporations seek lowest labour costs.

          That new tech will be developed by nations where technology/jobs were outsourced, because they will have reached their own version of technological singularity. And on those sunrise industries that are maturing? What impact there? Technology and automation are leading to the culling of unskilled jobs like the check outs. It's not going to stop there though. Why not fast food outlets. You could even automate the cooking processes (robots are much more efficient). Labour cost has not yet reached the threshold where robots that can combine engine head to block and torque to whatever torque value/torque to yield stretch required in 30 seconds are ready to displace humans. Some might argue the better service from the robot. See a pattern yet?

          What's the upshot of a nation like Australia that has a severely diminished middle class (bye bye disposable incomes)? There are follow on effects to losses in manufacturing. You lose key competencies, you end up farming out R&D work to overseas companies and you further spiral down the ability for a nation to sustain itself technologically or at least aspire to it.

          My partner was a scientist working in bio (she's in an area that pays more/less stressful). She says that samples that used to be processed in Australia are now done in South Korea. This is for cost control purposes. Think of the impact of that one thing and the knock on effect that has to ground level, foot in door budding scientists. At some point, you may well lose critical mass and competencies that resonates through the years. Would be scientists are deterred from entering that field because work is slim/difficult to obtain. The culture and intellectual capacity to develop the 'next big thing' is stymied because the pool of entrants are now severely diminished. Round and round.

          I am amazed at how collectively and individually we ultimately reduce our own circumstances in self-interest, short-sightedness and stupidity. We all have vested interests in the stability, security and economic prosperity of this country. It buys a pretty decent standard of living for most of us. The losses of Ford, Holden, SPC?, displacement of labour to automated machines, the loss of once iconic brands to just a market name (think Bonds, Sidchrome), then cumulatively, those are jobs that are lost forever.

          Get used to an employment market that consistently rides higher, more casual/part-time work and a decreased tax base to support health, education and welfare.

    • altomic on 07/02/2014 - 21:55
      +2

      My wife's uncle is anesthetist and is loaded. Fairly relaxed work environment,

      yeah, they get the good sh!t

    • VeganJerky on 08/02/2014 - 17:01
      +9

      I read Barrister as "Barista" and was confused for a second thinking someone could make so much making coffee.

      • grimreeper on 10/02/2014 - 16:34

        That's a lot of coffee lol

    • thetownfool on 10/02/2014 - 00:09

      Horribly inaccurate top 3 there. Medical specialities tend to earn more when they are procedural, and grouping surgeons and interventional radiologists with GPs and ED specialists (who will all be staff specialists) is pretty silly. I'd write off the rest of the list based on that… maybe anaesthetists are the most honest on their tax return.

      To the OP - if there were jobs where you could earn >100k, live in the city and have a nice work/life balance, without too much extra study, do you think others might have the same idea?

      I have a very risk/reward outlook on these things. Careers that are minimal risk, with good employment prospects and earning prospects, tend to involve study and competition. Starting your own business is far more risky but may bring as great a reward. You may end up working harder and under more stress than studying. If you want a safe career, but don't want to study or work out of hours, it's unlikely you'll end up earning big money unless you somehow stand out from the pack.

    • mawe on 11/02/2014 - 15:10
      +2

      You really need to look at the big picture rather than just the average wages.

      As has been mentioned with anaesthetists it is the same with mining engineer/geologist /geophysicists/petrochemicals etc as in you typically earn a bit more because those jobs are not for everyone and there is quite a high cost to entry. You are going to do at least 4 years study, and then spend many years working on remote sites to build up your experience. Many of these jobs will not be in capital cities and the ones that are, will be only for the very experienced and in they will be in high demand. You will probably need to do FIFO for a while. These are in highly cyclical industries so demand for you skills will be high during the boom and you may be made redundant during the busts and be living off your redundancy/savings/partner/dole while looking for the next job and hunting for bargains. That’s not to say these are not very enjoyable fields to work in, just that it is not a life style for everyone and you have to consider the full picture rather than just the average money.

      Let’s focus on geologist and geophysicists for a while. According to the Australian Government http://docs.employment.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/resourc…
      “Geologists and geophysicists recorded the largest fall in advertised vacancies over the year to May 2013, down by 52.5 per cent compared with the previous year” and “…in the five years to 2011 domestic completions in Geology almost doubled, to around 180”. So whereas a couple of years ago when wages were good and everyone had a job; now wages might be good but not everyone has a job.

      You also need to consider what is the future for many jobs. We see jobs like engineering increasingly being farmed out to else were in the world. We see many jobs in IT progressively lose their gloss and become quite proceduralized, formulaic and outsourcable which may not suit everyone. Other jobs are changing though technology and automation. We see jobs like surveyors for instance changing from being very hands to requiring someone who is very computer literate.

      Generally if the job pays well:
      • There is some barrier to entry (cost, time).
      • That job has some aspect that is not for everyone (life style, stress, cyclic).
      • The jobs is quite niche and there a few practitioners.
      • There are millions of people that also see the same opportunity that you do and will be competing with you to work for progressively less money (some parts of IT).

      If you are looking for something that requires little investment, and stress, pays well and has good security then take whatever field that you enjoy and work yourself way into a niche that pays well, but be ready to jump to something else if required :)

    • JayCeeJay on 11/02/2014 - 16:20

      probably just my friend, but being a radiographer doesn't pay as well as you'd think ($50k in 3 years experience), very competitive especially at intern level, he works at liverpool hospital now and just hates the odd shift hours, seeing people die or getting carved up, heavy lifting of bodies, etc.

    • downbythecreek on 11/02/2014 - 21:13

      I work as a "Marine Transport Professional" and earn $57.60 per hour averaged out, so pretty much bang on with this list.
      This is salary and a few more allowances would probably pop it up to around $60 per hour all said and done.

  • mskeggs on 07/02/2014 - 08:12

    Sales people makes lots of money for comparatively little work and low training requirements. Think selling IT systems to big corporates or industrial equipment, not frys at McDonalds.
    You need to be motivated, need to get over the "but sales is icky" mindset a lot of people have, and you need to be prepared to get beaten down everyday and come back the next.
    If you have those attributes, it is by far the easiest way to make a lot of money.
    The successful sales people I work with tend to fall into two camps.
    One lot are a bit dim, but will perform the actions their managers tell them to with no shame and keep chasing up customers like a bloodhound.
    The other are pretty smart, and carefully choose their customers to find people who will genuinely benefit from the products and services they sell, then just have to demonstrate that.
    Either way works, but I think you will be happier if you took the 2nd approach.

  • tomleonhart on 07/02/2014 - 08:40
    +14

    I think what you're really seeking should be what your passion is. As long as your passion is there, you will feel happy and keep doing it. What is it that you like to do and will most likely pursue.

    Because doing something 12 hours a day / 7 days a week will exhaust your patient or excitement pretty quickly. I know even fighter / commercial pilots who are passionate about flying get tired of their jobs too even though they get paid very well.

    Money shouldn't be your key motivation. Once you started to earn 100k, you will be surrounded by people who earn 150k and you will start to think that 100k is not enough and will start to seek a 200k paying job.

    Do what you love and keep doing it.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2014 - 09:57

    There are lots of jobs that pay well - I reckon, talk to people about their work. What're the positives and negatives - tell them you're thinking of a career change and they'll usually be helpful.

    Doing what you love can be good or bad advice. Personally, I do what I love and profit off of it - I can work long/crazy hours because it doesn't feel like work to me (and I never admit this to friends who complain about their work.) But, what you love has to be something you're good at and something that'll pay well.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/02/2014 - 12:21

      What do you do?

  • daewoo on 07/02/2014 - 10:13
    +3

    Look at some Graduate IT Consultant roles at IBM's, Accentures, Deloitte etc… Yes they may pay ~$70k package, however be prepared to be milked for hours. As a consultant, you will be rented out to companies at huge rates, and treated like crap.

    Once you have gained your five years of experience, and hopefully kept a few contacts from these gigs, you can contract directly to them. A basic developer or business analyst can ask for ~$800 per day. The catch is your job only lasts for 6 months (whereas previously IBM etc would have found you your next job). With that amount of money, you could afford to only work 6 months of the year :)

    Eventually, you may get over contracting or working up the career ladder, and make your own company with all the slosh you saved up contracting.

    Life sorted :)

    PS - pay is compensation relative to how shit your job is. If the job gave you a warm-fuzzy feeling, it would be called a charity with no pay :)

    • lplau on 07/02/2014 - 15:19
      +1

      $800 per day isn't actually ALOT for a contractor when you start to take into consideration Leave, taxes and other costs.

      After doing calculations, $800 per day is equivalent to approx $100,000 Salary Package.

      So if somebody offered me a $100,000 salary package, I'd go with that, because it is overall more stable than a contractor role of $800 per day.

      IBM Grads get paid $70,000 packages? I heard from my contacts that their packages are around $55,000-$60,000. But after the first year, they raise to around $70,000 then they sit there for a pretty long time.

      IBM is overall better than Accenture, IBM'ers that I know always talks about how well their work and life balance is. Where as the Accenture guys I know are always being slaved. lol

      • daewoo on 07/02/2014 - 15:38

        $800 per day isn't actually ALOT for a contractor…

        I know, that's for a "A basic developer or business analyst" :)

        IBM Grads get paid $70,000 packages?

        I can confirm it was $54k in 2008, and more like 57k for 2010 grads. No idea for now, it would have to be in the 60's based on the above pattern. I'm throwing out the approx (~) 70k number for grad packages, not to be taken literally :) The bigger the company name, expect more competition and less pay.

        IBM is overall better than Accenture, IBM'ers that I know always talks about how well their work and life balance is. Where as the Accenture guys I know are always being slaved. lol

        You speak truth, affirmative! :)

      • mini2 on 07/02/2014 - 16:16
        +1

        $70k seems to be band 6 money and yes you get stuck there for yonks if your immediate line manager is an @ssh0le and won't help you reach band 7. Heck I know a couple of brilliant guys there, started off as grads but only just got to band 7 and still earning less than $100k. If they're willing to go contracting, I could get them $1k+ day easily.

      • hahaboy on 09/02/2014 - 11:07

        Can confirm. The culture at IBM is overly relaxed, and you can get by most days doing 9-5 but being paid corporate rates.

      • leech on 10/02/2014 - 11:59
        +1

        800/day is way better than 100k package if you are good at what you do and are continuously employed. I've been contracting at around 800/day for 5 years as a business analyst and I'm wayyy better off than my colleagues who get 100-130k package

        Taking into account 4 weeks annual leave, 1week sick leave and public holidays I'm getting 180k per year :)

        Downside there is no maternity leave and harder career progression (perms get priority)

    • mini2 on 07/02/2014 - 16:28

      Yeah but working for IBM/Accidenture/Deloitte isn't for everybody.

      Then again for some absurd reason, I missed working for IBM despite I am now on 5x what they were paying me and I even work less hours these days.

      • daewoo on 07/02/2014 - 16:38

        You just miss the drinks :)

        Were you in GBS? I'm an ex-band 6'r too.

        • mini2 on 07/02/2014 - 16:55
          +1

          Nah GTS and I don't drink either. I was a contractor there, got in as a band 4 equivalent, somehow got a couple of promotions but never got a payrise to match. For reasons unknown, they've deemed my service being too expensive (FFS my role was supposed to be done by a high band 7/low 8) and replaced with a dude on a fixed term hire (of course they're cheaper…)

        • j4ck on 07/02/2014 - 21:47

          Heh I'm ex-GBS too…

          I wonder if we knew of each other?!

    • Phaded on 10/02/2014 - 09:50

      FYI Deloitte is nowhere near 70k for graduates.

      • GameChanger on 10/02/2014 - 13:16

        Depends on department, some on 65k

    • Gecko on 07/02/2014 - 11:02
      +5

      it's just efficiency, shouldn't we all strive toward that?

    • mskeggs on 07/02/2014 - 11:16
      +14

      I thought the OP was asking which direction to pour their hard work for high returns?

      • spacebanana on 07/02/2014 - 20:11
        +2

        Exactly what I was asking. Not looking for the 'easy' way, just looking for solid salary career paths

  • Ughhh on 07/02/2014 - 11:25
    +2

    There probably are lots of 100k jobs out there, but because of the competitiveness and the fact that there are more qualified, educated and experienced people out there, it's going to be hard.

    Lots of the high paying jobs niel posted above require years and years of studying at uni. Are you the sit down and study type or the hands on Labour type?

  • Eivad on 07/02/2014 - 12:19
    -1

    If you're looking for a high salary, why not become a mining engineer and work over in WA?

    The miners / engineers usually work in shifts - eg they work every day for 3 weeks, and then take 1 whole week off.

    Graduate salaries vary between 140k to 200k.

    If you're out doing fieldwork (ie TAFE degree rather than University degree), graduate salaries are closer to ~90-150k (you may want to check this number), depending on what you're doing.

    OR

    Become an investment banker. Make 120k graduate salary, with excellent career development opportunities.

    But be prepared to pull 100-120 hour weeks.

    • carnyturbo on 07/02/2014 - 15:15
      +1

      100-120 hour weeks. LOL yeah right.

      • mskeggs on 07/02/2014 - 18:07

        My boss is a lawyer who was doing a lot of merger and acquisition work at his old firm. He says he would routinely work 7 days a week with a 7 hour break at night to shower/sleep when a deal was closing.
        HE doesn't claim it was every week, but reasonably often.
        He left after 5 years, but his peers are now earning close to $1m p.a. as full partners. They work shorter hours now they are at the top.

        • Eivad on 08/02/2014 - 00:45
          +4

          Absolutely.

          I'm an M&A lawyer, and work 90 hour weeks (give or take ~10 - Januarys for example are quiet).

          Sleeping 7 hours every night (ie finishing work at 1am) is something you get used to, sometimes it's a luxury and you'll be pulling a week of all nighters and living off caffeine.

          The bankers, however, are crazy. They're still at work when I finish, and are often already there when I wake up. When a deal is on, they're contactable 24/7. You know why you see a line of taxis outside the big corporate buildings at all hours of the night (eg in sydney - chifley tower), they're waiting for the bankers to finish.

          It's a tough slog, but there's good money, and a better work-life balance when you get to the top.

        • redraoh on 08/02/2014 - 15:55
          +4

          What are they actually doing that requires so much time?

        • Logical on 09/02/2014 - 23:09
          +1

          office flings perhaps?

        • mskeggs on 10/02/2014 - 10:13
          +1

          They are selling a business for e.g. $500m.
          The sale revolves around a contract, much like the sale of a house.
          So it needs to cover every eventuality.
          The buying company will need to look over the contracts the acquired company has in place. For example, it is routine for customers to have a 'change of control' clause that lets them leave if somebody buys the firm.
          The buyer's lawyers will review all these to see which customers are affected, how much their business is worth, what the likelihood is they will stay even if they -could- leave.
          Then they need to look at things like the property leases of the target, to understand which they can end, where they are committed and for how long.
          Then they look at the staff contracts and remuneration, understanding what liabilities they are taking on in terms of long service leave etc.
          The output is a list for the managers explaining the position. The bosses then will use this as ammo to shave a few percent off the price or otherwise negotiate.
          They must do all this by the deal deadline (the date you hear the managers announce the deal is expected to be completed by), because if they miss the deadline all the numbers need to be recalculated for the new date.
          So that is why they work through the night if necessary.

          The whole process is called due diligence, and starts before an offer is made.

        • carnyturbo on 10/02/2014 - 10:52

          I'm guessing your boss isn't a new graduate.

        • carnyturbo on 10/02/2014 - 11:16

          90-100 hours I get. I've done it. But there is a big difference between 90 and 120 hours.

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